Self-propelled multi-purpose percussion unit



March 15, 1960 K. SPITZ ER 2,928,322

SELF-PROPELLED MULTI-PURPOSE PERCUSSION UNIT Filed Aug. 22, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.l

IN VEN TOR.

Lawrence K. Spilzcr ATTORNE'Y 2,928,322 SELF-PROPELLED MULTI-PURPOSE PERCUSSION UNIT Filed Aug. 22, 1955 March 15, 1960 L. K. SPITZER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2v i I. l \\E%&

IN V EN TOR.

Lawrpnce K. Spf/zcr BY ATTORN'Y March 15, 1960 I s rrz 2,928,322

SELF-PROPELLED MULTI-PURPOSE PERCUSSION UNIT Filed Aug. 22, 1955 V 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 I II 5 I I I I I m I") I .2" I {3 u. I I I g I; I I g 1 I I Q l I I g s; g m l I 2 o if q I w "i Q U) N I .E I? Q *II In GI 17') Lawrence K. Spifzer I I I INVENTOR. I BY SELF-PROPELLED MULTI-PURPOSE PERCUSSION UNIT Lawrence K. Spitzer, Englewood, Colo. Application August 22, 1955, Serial No. 529,706 2 Claims. (Cl. 94-49) This invention relates to powered percussion tools of a type heretofore in use for a variety of purposes, such as the tamping of fills, cutting and breaking of pavements, driving of posts and pilings, and the like, and has as an object to provide a novel and improved unitary organization of such a tool characterized by high operative adaptability and marked practical advantage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved operative association of a powered multipurpose percussion tool with a self-propelled carriage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved multi-purpose percussion tool unit adapted for self-propulsion at speeds appropriate for travel of the unit to, from, and between work sites and for alternative self-propulsion at other and much reduced speeds suited to advance the unit in eliective correlation with work elfect of the tool.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved selectively-adjustable mounting for a percussion tool in powered relation with a self-propelled carriage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved organization of means effective to power the hammer element of a percussion tool from the prime mover of an associated self-propelled vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction and operative correlation of elements constituting a multi-purpose, self-propelled, percussion tool unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multipurpose, self-propelled, percussion tool unit that is susceptible of expedient production in an extensive size range from readily-available materials, elements, and sub-assemblies, that is operatively complete in a self-powered unit; that applies the power of a single prime mover to accomplish'all of the functions of the unit, that is rugged and-durable in use, flexibly and adjustably responsive in operation, precise and-positive in effect, 'and efficiently rapid and economical in attainment of the ends for which designed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operative combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a typical embodiment ofthe invention as. arranged ready for practical use in one customary adjusted disposition of the percussion assembly.

Figure 2 is a-front end elevation of the organization according to Figure 1, broken lines in the view indicating alternative positions to which elements of the percussion assembly may be adjusted.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the organization accord- ;ing to the preceding views with the percussion assembly in a position of adjustment different from that previously illustrated and with alternative adjusted positions of said assembly indicated by brokenlincs.

2,928,322 Patented Mar. 15,

2, Figure 4 is a fragmentary, detail section taken substantially on the indicated line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, detail section taken substantially on the indicated'line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, detail section transversely through the closed upper end of the hammer guide assembly according to Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, detail elevation, partially in section, of hydraulic ram and associated pulley and cable means associated as shown in Figure 3 for actuation of the hammer element of the organization.

Incident to many construction, repair, and'maintenance operations, a powered tool of pile-driver type'operable to repetitiously deliver heavy impacts is effective for the conservation of time, labor, and expense. The hammer element of such a tool may be applied to drive posts, pilings, and the like in a usual manner and at various angles to the vertical when the hammer leads are angularly adjustable; equipped with suitable chisel adjuncts,

.the hammer may be applied to cut and trench through pavements of divers composition; furnished with an impact nose, the hammer may operate to crush and to break pavements and solid matter; and when armed with a tamping foot the hammer may be applied to pack and firm fills of loose materials. A percussion tool of the type described is especially advantageous and eifective when organized for self-propulsion at rates appropriate to move the tool from place to place, as along roads and highways, and for alternative travel at very slow speeds susceptible of correlation with tool operation, and the instant invention is directed to the provision of a practical and efficient unitary such organization.

In the organization 'of the improved unit as typically illustrated, a wheeled carriage is represented as includ ing, in any preferred particular construction, rigid frame members 10 defining and supporting a Hat platform 11, an axle'12 furnished with wheels 13 transversely below, inwardly adjacent, and in supporting relation with one end of said frame and platform, and a second axle 14 engaged at its ends with wheels 15 transversely beneath, inwardly adjacent} and in supporting relation with the other end of said platform. Manifestly, either of the axles 12' and 14 maybe arranged for propulsive drive of its associated wheels and the other of the axles arranged'in steerable association with its wheels, and in theillustrated embodiment it is the axle 14 at what is considered to be the forward end of the apparatus which self-propulsion in a conventional manner by means of a prime mover 19, illustrated as an internal combustion engine, operatively mounted on the end of the platform '11 adjacent the axle 12 and conventionally hooded, as

at 20; A conventional automotive drive including a change-speed transmission 21 under the control of a shift lever 22 and a drive shaft 23 in driven relation with the output element of the transmission 21 through V a universal joint 24 connects between the prime mover 19 and the axle 14 to apply the power of the prime mover to effect rotation of the wheels 15 in the desired direction and at desired speeds determinable by the operator through the transmission 21 in reaction to manipu' laticn of the shift lever 22, all as is usual practice. The conventional automotive drive as typically shown and described is adequate and useful for propulsion of the wheeledrcarriage .wherewith it is associated to, from,

between, and about the locations where the tool assem-,

bly of the unit, hereinafter to he described, may beadvantageously utilized, the speed ratios of the conventional nsmiss on be ng arrrq r ats tor ser a el of t r' s n we l as a r rqmitqa s and, i way and the neutral or inoperative position of theshift lever characteristic of such conventional transmissions aecommodates imrr obili zation of the earriage at any selected use site without interruption of primemover operation. However, steady advance of the carriage atvery low speeds contributes greatly to. the elfectiveness rof'tool s em l e in y op tion isuqh as th pack of tre ch ll h o n of Pa ments, hebreak u of P men and the lik and; t e peed. Ia s; of con:

' veut a a mot t an missiqns a e inadequate to pro ide, he ady c eep ng advance cf the. ca ria e. apute ia s .fic e i t e corre atica ithtea assemb y. operw thou dam ge t9 he co ventiona equipment, and r au rlyhe cl h elem nt t e e tr sn e a tea: this o th ins ant inventin s-th ass cia on ith he conventi l a omo iv dri e o h sarr age of anal: s na i e y-e p oy bl supp me ary t ansmiss on a lable at the will of the operator tofapply power. from the prime mover 19 to and for rotation of the driYe shaft mission 21. a

The supplementary transmission is constituted as a conventional hydraulic motor in driving relation through a speed reducer 26 with a shaft 27carrying a' pinion 28' rotatable therewith andshiftable-axially thereof. The assembly of motor 25 and speed reducer 26 is mounted on one side ofthc. transmission 21 to dispose the shaft 27. parallel to the. output shaft of the tion to mesh with the pinion 28 when the latteris shifted on its shaft 27 towardthe speed reducer 26. Thus, with the pinion 28 disengaged from the gear 29,'th6fCOI1V6ntional automotive driveis available for use inthe customary manner but; when a creeping drive of the car- 3 n Y-P S ng relation with the ent onal t ans: 25'

and 3t) and handle'37, the operator may engage and actuate the supplementary transmission of theor'ganiiation to drive the wheels 15 through the agency of the shaft 23 in either direction of their rotation and at a very slow speed determined by the gear ratios utilized in the supplementary transmission and the rate of fluid fiow through the lines 38 as 'regulated'at the valve 36, thus to advance the assembly at a steady, creeping rate susceptible of correlation with the actuation oftbe tool assembly as hereinbelow described:

The percussion tool assembly of the'unit is mounted upon and operatively associated with the powered carriage above described through the agency of triangular frames 39 rigidly secured spaced, parallel registration to and at the opposite long sids of the carriage bed represented by the members 10 and platform 11 to upstand substantially perpendicularly from and above the latter with the ap e of hei uppe nds dvansed ongitudina ly a outwaaypr the teenage to ov hang aud, project bey nd h cad t the P atf rm s pa a e by e a e 1. he upper. ends of, the frames 39Yf1xedly mount aligned bearings'40 wherein a shaft 41 is journaled to. Spain between said' framestransversely of the carriage at a considerable elevation above and in spaced parallelism with the adjacent end of the platform llyand a strut 42fixedly eonnectsbetween the upper ends of the frames 39 spacedly adjacent and parallel to said shaft 41 to brace and secure c said frames infan appropriate dispqsition and operative relationship. Adjustable angular positioning of the shaft 41 within and relative to the" bearings is the function of an hydraulic rantunit 43 hinged at its ends to and connecting between a bracket 4 4 fixed to one of the frames 39 and anarm 45 fixedly depending from and substantially radially of said shaft" inwardly adjacent said frarne. The ram unit 43 is powered for selective actuation by means of fluid pressure by' pass lines 46 connectingjsaid unit with the conventional hydraulic. system of thecarriage in a riageis desired, the, shift lever 22 is moved to its neutral position and the pinion 28 is shifted.intoi engagement withthe gear 2 9,, whereupon actuation of themotor '25 is effective through the speed reducer 26 to rotate said pinion and to consequently rotate 'the driveshaft '23 through said gear 29,. Any iexpedientfmeans may be provided for shifting the pinion -28 airially. ofits shaft 21 it convenient arrangementfor such purpose being illustrated as a lever30 pivoted onthe side. of .the transmissionxlrl, as a t 31 within convenient reach of an-operatorat the, station 18, and a link 32 operativelyrcon'neeti g etween the lowerend of'the lever 30and a shift? ing fork 33 associated with the pinion 28" in a customary manner. For powering of the tool assembly the carriage is equipped with a conventionalhydraulic system including a; fluid pump, not lshown, in driven relation with the prime mover 19, a' reservoir 34 for fluid under pressure carried by the platform 11, and pressure flow a usual manner through 'a valve typified by the handle 47 r conveniently adjacent the operators station 18, thus to reflect manipulation of said handle as extension or retraction of the ramunit and consequent rocking of the shaft a 1 t its a t n e b ar ngs 40- Cea lly we n the ea ngs 0 and mmed a e y above h aft '41, a

b -b rr 48 is s c e as by me ns of pla es-4.9, to

saidjshaft with the barrel axis generally horizontal. and in t e v r i a lo git d n l medi n pla e of the c rriag said barrel profit n at each end beyond sh ft 41, and

a yl nd a 5.0 fi .ceutrallv Qfand utstaud s pe end cula y fr m an? an ular Pla e 51is mas bly accommod t d in said b, to mount. said plate in a genera y ve t ca di n sit qu s a dl from a d w y item the carriage and is re. taiued againstidisplacenr nt axially of: the barr l y, a eta hab e c p 52 Sewar t the nd. thereof. r mote item he p a e 51in t ve ly n rclat enwith the end of the barrel directed inwardly of the carriage. The plate 51 is provided with flanges 5A3 fixedly outstanding inra direction away from the carriage at and along the vertical side mar- V' gins of the plate, which flanges fixedly engage with midlines 35 connecting through a valve'36 between said pump and reservoir to complete a conventional hydraulic he rri e and. th oushtthe valve 36 thereof, p op ulat on Qf he handle an. acts. to bypass fluid pres-- ll h fQq h the lines: 3& for retationtir the. motor 25,. lfd r t fiqu nt rotation of zlthe pinion' 28;"in either direction 'as determinedfby the direction of fluid flow.

' Hence, throughuselective manipulation of thelevers 22 portions of like, elongated channel members 54 to support the latter in spaced, parallel relation'and in opposition of I 7 their, channels asarigid slideway or trackireeiprocably ac- I system in a usual manner. Thevalve 36, isiadjustable' to V i commodat'ive of a massive hammer i marginally; engaged in and toslide freely relative'to -the channels of said bers. Aryo ke 56 ofisetftoward the carriage in cl relation withthe path of hammer travel connects. between f lower ends of the members 54 to maintain? the appropriate spacing therebetween, and a cap 57similarly intersecurc's V the up er ends of said members and provides support fora pulley 5'8 whereover a cable 59 isled tgfconnection at one end with the hammer55. 'On endofthe shaft 41 projects as an extension 41- beyond tli' adjacent bearing" v fixed engagement with an arrrig-orarin's, 60outstandiri g 7' generally upwardly and radially therefrom to hinged connection with one end of an hydraulic ram unitlihand I he arre 9nd. direeted other end of said unit hingedly connects with the free end of an arm 62 fixed to and rising above theplate 51 adjacent the barrel 58, so that manipulation of a valve handle 63 conventionally controlling flow of fluid under pressure from the hydraulic system of the carriage to the ram unit 61 through by-pass lines 64 may be applied to rock said plate in either direction about the axis of the trunnion 50 revoluble within the barrel 48 and thereby regulate and determine the angular relation of the members 54 to the vertical in a generally vertical plane transverse of the carriage. The percussive tool assembly is completed for practical operation through the provision of means wherethrough the hammer 55 may be selectively reciprocated in the track provided by the members 54 for consequent work effect applied through gravity-induced, guided fall of said hammer, and a feature of the invention is the organization and arrangement of such means'illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter described. Approximately centered laterally of the carriage on and inwardly adjacent the forward margin of the platform 11, an hydraulic ram unit 65 is fixed to upstand perpendicularly from said platform in a preferred disposition accommodating extension of its piston and stem element upwardly relative to the associated cylinder element. The ram unit 65 is operatively associated with the hydraulic system of the carriage by means of fluid pressure lines 66 and a fiow control valve 67 in a customary arrangement and is of a conventional type characterized by means automatically operable to arrest travel of the piston and stem element outwardly of the cylinder at a predetermined maximum extension of the ram and by a valve and flow line arrangement accommodating quick return of the stem and piston element to retracted relation with the cylinder. A multi-sheave pulley assembly 68 is fixed at the junction of the platform 11 and ram 65 in operative alignment with the pulley 58 and a complementary multi-sheave pulley assembly 69 is mounted on and for travel with the free upper end of the ram unit in operative alignment with the assembly 68, about, through and between which pulley assemblies the cable 59 is reeved and secured to establish a plurality of bights 59', illustrated as four in number, effective through simultaneous elongation of all said bights 59 in an obvious manner to elevate the hammer 55 at the other end of the cable when the ram unit is extended to increase the separation between the pulley assemblies 68 and 69; the extensible range of the ram unit and the number of bights 59' being so correlated as to raise the hammer from the lower end to the upper end of the track constituted by the members 54 at each full actuation of the said unit. Obviative of any tendency of the track to tilt in reaction to tensions applied to the cable 59, said cable is led through a double roller guide 70 fixed to and extending rearwardly of the carriage from the strut 42 below the adjacent end of the barrel 48.

Constructed and organized as shown and described, the unitary assembly of the invention is a self-powered, self contained, automotive tool simple of operation in a'wide field of practical application. With pressure obtaining in the hydraulic system of the carriage, the ram 43 may be selectively actuated to rock the shaft 41 in its bearings 40 for consequent angular adjustment of the track constituted by the members 54 in the vertical longitudinal median plane of the assembly and to retain said track in any such adjusted position between the horizontal disposition thereof indicated by broken lines in Figure 3 and the overhanging inclination to the vertical represented by full lines in said view. Similarly, selective actuation of the ram 61 may be applied in any fore-and-aft disposition of the track to rock the latter about the axis of the trunnion 50 for adjustment of the track ends laterally and to either side of the carriage, as typified by the broken line showings of Figure 2. In any adjusted disposition of the track, and particularly when the track is aligned longitudinally of and horizontally above the carriage, the automotive drive may be utilized in a customary manner to move the assembly about and from place to place, both over roads and highways and at the work site, and whenever expedient, especially with the track adjusted to a use position, the supplementary drive may be availed of to advance the unit at a very slow, creeping rate. Reciprocation of the hammer 55 in its track in response to selective actuation of the ram 65 is applied to desired work effect through divers specific tool elements interchangeably mounted on and to depend from the lower end of the hammer in any feasible manner. When the tool is applied to the packing and consolidation of fills, a tamping foot 71 terminating a shank 72 of appropriate length is connected to the lower end of the hammer where it functions in an obvious manner as the hammer is caused to reciprocate in an approximate vertical disposition of its track to compact an area determined by the lateral adjustment of the track and, travel of the carriage. With an impact head replacing the foot 71 and shank 72, hammer reciprocation may be applied to drive posts, pilings, probes, and the like, at the various angles within the range of track adjustability, and with .a nosed impact head the hammer is effective to disrupt rock layers, pave.- ments, curbs, gutters, and similar emplacements, with facility and economy enhanced by the availability ofthe creeping drive for the carriage. In another and important adaptation, a chisel tool may be associated with the hammer and thereby applied to the scoring and. cutting of certain types of paved surfaces preliminary to trenching therethrough, the creeping drive of the carriage being especially useful for correlation of carriage advance with hammer reciprocation during and to accomplish such scoring and cutting by means of a chisel disposed with its working edge parallel to the path of such advance. As is conventional practice, the controls for the ram 65 are manipulable to regulate and determine the direction and extent of hammer travel in its track, said controls being effective to arrest and to reverse travel of the hammer at any point of the maximum travel range.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction, and' arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention,.I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a powered, self-propelled carriage having a fluid pressure system, of a shaft framesupported in fixed relation with and for rotation trans-,

versely of and spacedly above one end of said carriage, an arm radially of said shaft, an hydraulic ram selectively operable by said system connecting between the free end of said arm and a point fixed relative to the carriage, whereby tovary and to determine angular adjustment of said shaft about its axis, a tubular barrel fixed to said. shaft in axially-perpendicular relation therewith, an elongated track formed with a normally lower open end and a normally upper closed end, a trunnion fixed to said track intermediate the ends and perpendicular to the plane thereof rotatably engaged in said barrel, an arm generally radial of said trunnion, a second hydraulic ram selectively operable by said system connecting between the free end of said latter arm and a point on the shaft remote therefrom, whereby independently to vary and to determine angular adjustment of said trunnion about its axis, a hammer reciprocable in said track, a third hydraulic ram ,on the carriage selectively operable by said system, a pulley on the closed end of said track, and a cable connecting over said pulley between said hammer and said third ram, wherebyto apply extension of said ram to elevation of the hammer in the track, wherein said a third hydraulic ram is fixed at one end to and upstands substantially vertically from the carriage, multi-sheave pulleys are associated with each of the relatively-movable members of the ram, and the cable portion connecting over the pulley on the closed end of the track in a direction" may froni'the 'liamr'rier' is reeved about said m'ultisheave pulleys to reflect ram travel as correspondinglyr'riultiplie'dtravel of tlie'hammer. a

2. The combination with a powered, self-propelled carria'ge having a fluid 'pressure system, Ora shaft framesupported in fixed relation with and for rotationtraiisversely of an'd'spacedlyabove one end of s'aid 'cairiage, an arm radially "of said shaft, an hydraulic ram se1ecti vely operable by said'system connecting between the free end of said 'ar'n'randa point fixed relative to the carriage, whereby to'vary and to det'err'riine angularadjustment of said shaft about itsaXis, a tubular barrel fixed'tof said shaft in axially-perpendicularrelation there-v with, an'l'on ga'tedtrack formed with anorrnally lower open en'dan'd anor'm'a'lly upper closed'en'd, a trunnion fixed to saidtrack intermediate the ends' and perpendicular' tothe plane thereof rotatably engaged in said barrel, an arm generally radial of said trunnion,fa'secone hydraulic-ram selectively operable by said system point on'the shaft remote therefrom, whereby independently to vary and to'determine angular adjustment or said trunnion about its=axis,.a hammer reciprocable in said track, a third hydraulic ram on the carriage selectively operable by said system, a pulley on the closed on the closed end of the track in a direction away from the hammer is reeved through said guide and about said 7 multi-sheave pulleys to reflect ram travel as correspond connecting between the free end of said latter arm and a V ingly-multipliedt'ravel ofthe hammer and to minimize tendencies'ot cable tensionsto tiltthietraek, V

' 5 References Cited in the file of patent IW EP S A ES P BNIS 2,014,631 Race m 2,096,943 Ieiiipletdn Oct. 26, 1,937 2,193,293 Nichols Mar. 12, 1940 2,616,267 Guild Nov. 4, 1952 2,659,584 Dorkins, Nov; 17, 1953 2,731,892

7 Simmonds Jan. 24, 1956 4; Sept. 17, 1935 

